Foot covering



y 1945- A. YANDELL 2,376,399

FOOT COVERING Filed Oct. 29, 1943 INVENTOR. fl/me Yazzdell mmmmh Patented May 22, 1945 UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE FoorcovEamG ;m Anne Yandell, blew York, N V Application October 29, 1943, Serial No. 508,161

or extend'substantially adjacent the toes of the 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved 'foot covering; According to one of itsmore specific aspects, it aims to provide an improvement over the: structure and technique generally disclosed in my prior application for United States Letters Patent filed on April 10, 1943, and identified underSerial Number 482,562. j It is an object of theinvention to provide a foot covering or enclosing structure of improved design which may be utilized or worn in any desired manner but which will preferably be disposed between'the foot and the shoe of, the wearer.

Also, if the wearer is dressed in stockings, the

present device will preferably be interposed between the stocking and the encasing shoe.

A further object isthatof providing a unit of this type and which will remain in position upon the foot of the wearer and. free from any tendency to ride down and under the heel or upwardly along the same to an extent such thatit would result in discomfort.

Another object is that of furnishing a foot covering which will achieve results such as are traversed in the foregoing objects and which, at

the same time, will embody a relativelysimple construction capable of being readily manufactured. Accordingly, a unit may be produced which may be sold at a relatively nominal figure.

With these and other objects-in mind; reference and l6mayproject. l The rear edges of the latter preferably extend outwardly and join in an outward directionwith the side edges of the blank. These side edges I! preferably extend slightly toward each other in the direction ofthe forward end of the blank. As will be seen, preferably straight edge portionslB extend rearwardly of portion l4. l l i As illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3, one of the projecting portions [3 is folded. upon the central projection H and theseparts are attached along their respective peripheries in any desired manner as, for example, by stitching. This stitching may, of course, be of the blind type so that the unit may be reversed if desired. The second and outer projecting portion adjacent the forward edge of the blank is now folded over to overlap the first portion as well as the central projection Hand is similarly stitched thereto about the forward edges thereof:. It will be understood is had to the attached sheetof drawing illus'trating practical embodiments, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a blank from which the foot covering may be produced;

Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a partially assembled foot covering providedby this blank;

Fig. 3 is a side elevationof the unit and showing the same in applied position on the foot of the wearer; I l

Fig. 4is a view similar to Fig. lbut illustrating an alternative form of blank;

Fig. 5 isaperspective View of amember constructed from the blank shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 shows that "member in applied position Referring'primarily to Fig. 1, it will be, seen i that the reference numeral l0 indicates thebody of the blank which may be formed-0f any suitable material. Preferably, however, it is knitted or woven of a material similarto that employed in the manufacture of stockings. As illustrated, the

that the stitching of the respective elements may be done at one time, if desired. As a consequence of this construction, a toe-enclosing portion is furnished. A1S0,if a rearward strain or pull is exerted upon those parts of the unit which extend to each side of the partunderlying the foot sole, it will be found thatthe overlapping portions are placed in a condition of tension. This has the result that thetoes are firmlybut not bindihgly-enclosedand a self-sustaining structure is presented when the covering is applied to the foot. l

In order to achieve this result, the end edges defining the projections liand LBare again connected bystitching or otherwise. Thus, a heel portion is furnished which will snugly engage the heel adjacent itsbase and thus exert a tension throughout the entire structure and in order to achieve the aforementioned effect. The line of connection between theprojections l5 and I6 has been indicated by the referencenumeral I9 as in Fig. 2. Aswill also be clearly seen in this figure, no stitchingor equivalent method of connection is provided between this heel-encircling portion and the relatively projected part I 4 which underlies the heel. Accordingly, a gap 20 is furnished atthispointw l i ;It isfound; asa result of this construction, that any tendency of the foot coverin to ride being precluded-because of the general design of 1 the unit and also the material of which it is preferably formed. 1 r 1 U Now referring to the construction of the blank shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that the body of this member is in most respects similar to the, body I0 as shown in Fig. 1. Forward projections 2|, 22 and Rare provided, and the configuration of these may correspond to the configurations of projections ll, I2 and [3 or be modifiedii de sired. The side edges of the blank,are:also*-sub-, stantially identical with the side edges as illustrated in Fig. 1. blank is formed Wlthi a recess 24 which; is-centrally; disposed and. which. extends well. into; the sole portion, of the covering. j To; each side of this recess, projecting portions 25; and 2-6 are provided. These may be relatively narrowand their rear edges'may be cut .to extend at a tangent. The. toe portions of the blank as illustrated in 4 may be assembled in, precisely the manner described in. connection withtheblank of Fig. 1. It. will be seen, howeventhat theprojections 25 and 2.6 --when their endedges are connected-- provide in aggregate whatmightbe truly termed a strap.. As shown in Fig..6;. t his strap rides-or bears against the rear of the Wearers heel.

In such position, it Win-preferably lie above the lower. portion of the heel. (Jonsequer tly, it will; not tendto ridedownwardly over: the. heel. It. will alsobe, apparent that, as; a consequence of the recess or notch 24 the heel proper or that portion of thefoot covering whichunderliestthe .heel of the foot sole-isentirely eliminated. as; in: dica-tedlby thereferencenumeral 2.1.. It follows that any tendency :of the. covering member to rideunder the heel; will thus beprevented. to even. a. further extents At the. same time, av conditionofi tension will be imparted tothe portions ofthe unit andsuchthat it will snugly embrace the-adjacentpart of the foot. a 7

Thus) it will be seen v that in; both of e the. illustrated forms; of. the. foot covering a unitis. presentedqwhich includes a sole-engaging portion having. its forwardendterminating; in what might beitermeda projection. To-each: side of this portion material parts are presented which, when the blank is assembled,, furnishside walls. The forward. ends of the latteralso terminate in projections. Theseare caused to overlap each other and also the projections of the toe portion and the parts are secured in position. by stitching of any suitable type or. in any other. desired. man ner. The rear ends of. theseside walls are preferably cutto extend outwardly. Consequently, when. these ends areconnected to; form a-. heelencircling member; they will not tend to ride downwardly-around-.the heel and, in. effect,: a strap" member/is furnished- The lower edge; of thislatter memberis not connected to the adjacent sole portion. Consequently, .asin Fig. 2, a slight gap. or slit results Inthe. structure ofFigs. l: to 6, where; the heel portion: of the sole has been eliminated, the slit is, of course, expanded; to in effectfurnish a relatively large opening 21. In bothforms of structure a collapsible (i'.- e, non self-sustaining) unit is; furnished However, the rear edge of the" which: willgmaintain the proper-position, oi. its

.the sole. e

4. A blank offlat resilient fabric, for forming, a

several parts when applied to the foot of the wearer. Of course, a stiffening element or elements might be incorporated in the structure but this is usually unnecessary.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that,

'eniiin an arcuate extension having a maximum width and: length suflicient to underlie the toes of the wearer the rear end of said sole portion terminating forwardly of the heel of the wearer; relatively narrow side:v portions each. terminating at its forward end. in. an' a-rcuate extension sub stantially similar in length. and width t'o-said firstnamed extension, the rear edge offe'ach said'side extensioncurving. sharply outwardly from the edge of.' its. associated sideportionand being ma.- teri'a-ll'y wider than its associated si'd'e portion, said side portionsextendi'ng rearw'ardly'of said; sole portion to provide strap members connectedto said sole portion only at their forward. ends each of said arcuate side extensions being-folded over each other. and permanently securedto the first named. extension in overlapping. relationship therewith. to form a toe covering, and said strap members being connected at. their rear. free, ends to encircle the heeliofthe wearer.

2. A stocking foot of" inherently elastic fabric comprising a sole having. asubstantially semicircular toe end; a'heel port ion, andil'ow sidefporti'ons,.each side-portion having a. substantially semicircular forward extension, the. rear edge of which extends sharply angularly outwardly from the. outer edge of its associated side, said, extensions crossing eachother in overlappingrelationship and being. secured to said semicircular toje end along substantially the full peripheryjthereof; the inneredge of 'each such extension making a rel'ativelylarge angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sole, whereby the resilient tension afforded by the securement. of. the resp'c tive forward'l extensions to the toe end draws the sides and heel snugly about the. foot of the wearer.

3. A- blank of flat resilient'iabric for forming a stocking foot, comprising a sol'eportion having a substantially semicircular toe. end; and narrow extensions. laterally on both sides ofthe solej piortioniflaring. sharply outwardly at the toe end-into substantially semicircular portions Qfsub'stantiall'y the same shape as the'toe end portions of stocking foot, comprising. a. sole portiomhaving a substantially. semicircular "t'o'e end andext'end- 

